System and method for accessing a vehicle

• US 10,121,295 B2
• Filed: 08/29/2016
• Issued: 11/06/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Huf North America Automotive Parts Mfg. Corp. (Huf Hulsbeck & Furst GmbH & Co. KG)
• Original Assignee: Huf North America Automotive Parts Mfg. Corp. (Huf Hulsbeck & Furst GmbH & Co. KG)
• Inventors: Odejerte, Jr., Antonio
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Dhaval
• Application Number:
  US15/250,138
• Publication Number:
  US 20170061714A1
• Time in Patent Office: 799 Days
• Field of Search: 340 561, 340 562, 340 522, 340 564, 34087001, 370 91, 370252, 370329
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00587 by battery
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00603 by power transmission from lock
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00611 by using inductive transmission
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00619 by using capacitive transmission
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00769 with data transmission performed by wireless means
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00309 operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00571 operated by interacting with a central unit
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/253 visually

Abstract

A method for accessing a vehicle includes determining a charge level of a battery of a first vehicle access device. The method also includes creating a permission scheme for a second vehicle access device. The method further includes communicating the permission scheme to a vehicle and accessing the vehicle with the second vehicle access device.

Claims

1. A method for accessing a vehicle, the method comprising:

determining a charge level of a battery of a first vehicle access device;

creating a permission scheme for a second vehicle access device based on the charge level of the battery of the first vehicle access device;

communicating by a controller the permission scheme to a vehicle controller;

accessing the vehicle with the second vehicle access device;

activating a battery level warning signal of the first vehicle access device based on whether the charge level is below a first threshold value;

activating a low power mode of the battery of the first vehicle access device based on whether the charge level is below a second threshold value; and

shutting down the first vehicle access device based on whether the charge level is below a third threshold value,

wherein the second threshold value is less than the first threshold value, and the third threshold value is less than the second threshold value.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising communicating by the controller the permission scheme to the second vehicle access device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein determining a charge level of a battery of a first vehicle access device includes determining the charge level of a smartphone, a smartwatch, or a computer.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein accessing the vehicle with the second vehicle access device includes accessing the vehicle using a smartphone, a smartwatch, or a computer.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining by the vehicle controller a position of the second vehicle access device relative to the vehicle.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising capturing by an information capturing device user information.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein capturing user information includes using a camera associated with the vehicle.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein using a camera associated with the vehicle includes using a backup camera.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising activating by the vehicle controller a charging station.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising charging at least one of the first vehicle access device and the second vehicle access device at the charging station.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein charging at least one of the first vehicle access device and the second vehicle access device at the charging station includes charging at least one of the first vehicle access device and the second vehicle access device at a door handle of the vehicle.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising deactivating by the vehicle controller the charging station following charging of at least one of the first vehicle access device and the second vehicle access device.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising activating a vehicle input signal at a door handle of the vehicle and validating by the vehicle controller the vehicle input signal to permit access to the vehicle when the charge level of the first vehicle access device is at or below the second threshold value.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the permission scheme includes at least one of an access time or an access type.

14. A method for accessing a vehicle, the method comprising:

determining a charge level of a battery of a first vehicle access device;

activating by a vehicle controller a charging station associated with the vehicle based on whether the charge level of the battery of the first vehicle access device is below a first threshold value;

charging the first vehicle access device at the charging station;

accessing the vehicle with the first vehicle access device;

deactivating the charging station with the vehicle controller;

receiving, at the vehicle controller, information associated with a user of the first vehicle access device after deactivating the charging station; and

determining whether the information associated with the user of the first vehicle access device matches a stored information.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein charging the first vehicle access device at the charging station includes charging the first vehicle access device at a door handle of the vehicle.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein determining a charge level of a battery of a first vehicle access device includes determining the charge level of a smartphone, a smartwatch, or a computer.

17. The method of claim 14, further comprising activating by the first vehicle access device a battery charge level warning signal when a charge level of the first vehicle access device is at or below the first threshold value.

19. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

activating a battery level warning signal of the first vehicle access device based on whether the charge level is below a second threshold value;

activating a low power mode of the battery of the first vehicle access device based on whether the charge level is below a third threshold value; and

shutting down the first vehicle access device based on whether the charge level is below a fourth threshold value,

wherein the third threshold value is less than the second threshold value, the fourth threshold value is less than the third threshold value, and the first threshold value is less than the fourth threshold value.